Series of Exasperating Delays

Pacific Air-Mail

Services

has been little said during the month about preparing for the in auguration of Pan-American Airways air mail service between Hawaii and New Zealand, across the Central Pacific.

According to the reports last published, this service should come into operation next month. But statements which have come from American sources suggest that all is not well between the U.S. Govern ment and P.A.A., and that it is possible that the contemplated Central Pacific ser vice will not commence for some time.

A somewhat similar delay is apparent in connection with the inauguration of the trans-Tasman service between Aus tralia and New Zealand. According to newspaper reports, an agreement had been reached between Britain, Australia, and New Zealand to inaugurate this ser vice at an early date. There is no sign of it, however, and probably it will not come into operation for another year. It seems to be dependent upon the inauguration of Imperial Airways’ seaplane service be tween England and Sydney; and that, in its turn, is being delayed by political developments. Imperial Airways, in November, was the subject of a very strong attack in the British House of Commons on the grounds of muddling and inefficiency, and one of the principals has resigned.

Nothing has been heard about the in auguration of the Sydney—New Guinea weekly air-mail service. Messrs. Carpen ter and Co. state that their De Havilland machines will be ready at the end of the year, but the Australian authorities de finitely have not hurried along with their aerodrome preparations; and Papua and New Guinea will be lucky if they see the service inaugurated in March next.

Definitely “ Gummed Up ”

Private advices from San Francisco and Hawaii are that “the proposed Pan- American air service to New Zealand is gummed up.” A broadcast from Wash ington on November 3 said that U.S.A. definitely will not subsidise the Auckland service.

Mr. J. M, Johnson (U.S. Bureau of

Air Commerce) stated publicly, early in

November, that the whole plan for the American-N.Z. service should have been worked out between the governments concerned; and that the present scheme does not carry official approval.

Preparing An Airport

It was announced in Auckland on November 3 that Pan-American Airways had let a contract for the erection of an airport building at Mechanics Bay, on the harbour foreshore—the building to be finished early in December. It was said also that “other arrangements necessary for the preparation of the site as a flyingboat base are in hand. A floating gang-way is being made . . . and a landing float will be purchased in Auckland for use in connection with a

50ft. jetty.”

Four skilled men, led by Mr. F. Mc- Kenzie, Pacific division airport engineer for Pan-American Airways, arrived in Auckland on October 29, to superintend preparations for the flying base. Mr.

McKenzie spent a month in Pago Pago, supervising the construction of a base there; and he also was at Kingman Reef, where P.A.A. have installed the ship Margaret Sterling as a floating base.

New Japanese Air Service

A regular passenger air service is to be inaugurated in January by the Japanese Ministry of Communications between Japan and her Mandated Is lands in North-West Pacific. The route will be from Haneda airport to Saipan (Mariana Group) and Palau (Carolines).

A test flight will be made in December.